Here are 3 ancient temples that should be added to your "bucket list".

The three ancient temples that photographer Le Bich visited are Vo Vi Temple, Tram Temple, and Tram Gian Temple, located in Chuong My District, Hanoi, about 20 km from the city center. According to him, visitors just need to follow Nguyen Trai Street to Ha Dong, then follow National Highway 6 towards Hoa Binh, passing Yen Nghia bus station and Mai Linh bridge to Bien Giang ward. When about 1 km from the sign indicating the end of the inner city area, look to your right and you will see the sign for Hanoi University of Physical Education and Sports; turn in there. Continue for another 5 km and you will see the Tram mountain range (also known as Tu Tram Son) in Phung Chau commune, Chuong My district, Hanoi. For convenience, photographer Le Bich chose to visit Vo Vi Temple first.

Vo Vi Pagoda

Vo Vi Pagoda is a small temple, approximately 10 square meters in size.²Located atop Mount Vo Vi, near the Tram mountain range, the temple, upon entering through its gate inscribed with "Vo Vi Temple," offers a tranquil atmosphere completely different from other famous large temples. Vo Vi Temple is free from the thick smoke of incense or crowds of people; instead, it boasts a peaceful and serene tranquility.

Legend has it that Vo Vi Pagoda was built in the 10th century during the Dinh Dynasty, when a leader of the Twelve Warlords came here to live in anonymity. During the Early Le Dynasty, the pagoda was located at the foot of the mountain and was called "Phuc Tru Tu". During the Tran Dynasty, the pagoda was renamed "Trai Tinh Tu". During the Later Le Dynasty, in the 6th year of the Hong Thuan reign (1514), the pagoda adopted its current name, "Vo Vi Tu". The name "Vo Vi" also refers to Lao Tzu's philosophy of "Vo Vi," which encourages people to follow nature.

Despite having existed for centuries and weathered many changes over the ages, the temple still retains its simple, rustic charm, with historical and artistic inscriptions such as the stone stele inscribed with the poem "Revisiting Vo Vi Temple" by General Tran Van Tang. The temple is also famous for its bronze bell cast in 1814 during the Nguyen Dynasty and the Nghinh Phong Pavilion, where visitors can admire the panoramic view of the nearby Tram Mountain scenic area and the prosperous village at the foot of the mountain.

Thien Pagoda

After leaving Vo Vi Pagoda, photographer Le Bich moved on to Tram Pagoda, about 500 meters away. Tram Pagoda is the main pagoda in a complex of pagodas located on the Tram mountain range. Built in the 16th century (1515) by General Tran Van Tang, the pagoda has a small area but a spacious courtyard with many ancient trees and a "mountain-backed, water-facing" position – its back resting against the Tram mountain range while its front faces the Day River. Tram Pagoda also possesses an ancient and solemn beauty, with architecture deeply rooted in the spiritual culture of the Northern Delta region. With many branches and leaves on the mountain providing shade, the space inside the pagoda is always cool and airy, creating the feeling that the pagoda and the mountain are a unified, inseparable whole.

According to legend, in ancient times, a fragrant agarwood tree once stood on the summit of Tram Mountain, spreading its scent throughout the region, hence the mountain's name, "Tu Tram Son" (Death Agarwood Mountain). Later, the tree was cut down, but the mountain's name remained. The entire Tram Mountain area was once the site of the royal palaces of the Le Dynasty and the Trinh Lords. The mountain boasts numerous fascinating caves, such as Long Tien Cave with its hundreds of strangely shaped stalactites and many valuable artifacts, including a statue of Amitabha Buddha meditating on a lotus throne with a serene and benevolent expression. On the ceilings and rock walls near the cave entrances are inscriptions praising the beauty of Tram Mountain by renowned scholars of the late Le and early Nguyen dynasties.

Hundred-Room Pagoda

After lunch, photographer Le Bich continued his journey to Tram Gian Pagoda, located about 3 km from Tram Pagoda in Tien Lu village, Tien Phuong commune, Chuong My district, Hanoi. The pagoda, also known as "Quang Nghiem Temple" or "Tien Lu Pagoda," was established during the reign of King Ly Cao Tong of the Ly Dynasty, in the 10th year of the Trinh Phu era (1185).

Tram Gian Pagoda is one of the national historical relics with immense historical and architectural value. Built nine centuries ago, the pagoda preserves many artifacts such as steles, horizontal plaques, couplets, and over 150 precious statues, including the statue of Tuyet Son and the statue of Quan The Am Bodhisattva. The pagoda's architecture is highly regarded for its unique design: counting each corner pillar as a section, the pagoda has 104 sections, divided into three main architectural clusters; the first cluster has four pillars and two pavilions, where human chess games are played during festivals and a lotus pond where water puppetry performances take place; the second cluster includes a two-story, eight-roofed bell tower with railings surrounding it, built during the reign of King Le Hy Tong (1693); the third cluster is the main pagoda, comprising the worship hall, the incense burning hall, and the main sanctuary.

A sightseeing trip to the three ancient temples of Vo Vi, Tram, and Tram Gian is not expensive, especially for those living in Hanoi. If you don't have a car, you can easily go by motorbike in a day, at any time you're free. So, save this destination so that when the stressful pandemic is over, you can enjoy a peaceful and relaxing day at these ancient, solemn temples, rich in historical and cultural value, as photographer Le Bich shared: "The tranquility of the temples and the peaceful scenery will make your daily worries disappear. Before you is the sparkling sunlight reflecting on the river, the white blossoms of the frangipani trees falling in front of the temple... That feeling will be remembered forever by anyone who has visited once."

Climb

Kieu Mai